Important Numerical from Interference (Chapter- 4.

2)
1) A soap film of refractive index 4/3 and of thickness 1.5x10 -4 cm is illuminated by white light
incident at an angle of 60 0. The light reflected by it is examined by a spectroscope in which a
dark band corresponding to wavelength of 5x10 -5 cm is found. Calculate the order of
interference of dark band. [
Ans :n = 6.06 , which represents dark band of sixth order ¿
4 -6 0 -5
Solution: Given, μ = , t =1.5 x 10 m , i= 60 , λ = 5 x 10 m
3

( ) ( )
0
sini -1 sini -1 sin 60 0
We know that μ = i. e . r = sin = sin = 40.51
sinr μ 4/3
For the dark band, i.e. destructive interference, in thin film due to reflected light, we have
2 μt cos r = nλ
4 -6 0
2 x x 1.5 x 10 x cos 40.51
i.e. 2 μt cos r 3
n= = = 6.06
λ 5 x 10
-7

It indicates the dark band of sixth order.

( ) ( )
0
sini - 1 sin 35
So, r = sin- 1 = sin = 25.48
0
μ 4/3
In soap film, the absence of light of particular wavelength in visible spectrum on observing
reflected light indicates the destructive interference which is obtained when 2 μt cos r = nλ
Thus, the wavelength corresponding to n = 1 is given by
-7 0
2 x 1.33 x 5 x 10 x cos 25.48 -9
λ1= = 1200 x 10 m
1
-7 0
2 x 1.33 x 5 x 10 x cos 25.48 -9
Similarly, for = 2 , λ 2 = = 600 x 10 m
2
-7 0
2 x 1.33 x 5 x 10 x cos 25.48 -9
Again , for n = 3 , λ3= = 400 x 10 m
3
-7 0
2 x 1.33 x 5 x 10 x cos 25.48 -9
for = 4 , λ3= = 300 x 10 m
4
But, we know that the wavelength of visible spectrum lies between 390 x 10- 9 m and
-9 -9 -9
700 x 10 m so that the light of wavelength 600 x 10 m and 400 x 10 m are
absent in the visible spectrum.
3) Two coherent sources are 0.18 mm apart and the fringes are observed on the screen 80 cm
away. It is found that with a certain monochromatic source of light the fourth bright fringe is
situated at a distance of 10.8 mm from the central fringe. Calculate the wavelength of light.
[ Ans : 6075 A0 ]
4) In a Young’s double slit experiment the separation of four bright fringes is 2.4 mm when the
wavelength of light is 6x10-7 m. The distance from the slit to the screen is 1 m. Calculate the
separation of the two slits. [Ans : 1 x 10- 3 m ]
5) The wave of yellow light has its wavelength 5893x10-10m and a speed of 3x108 ms-1in air. Find
the speed and wavelength of the wave in glass of refractive index 1.5.
[Ans:2x108m/s; 3928.66x10-10m]
 6) Suppose that Young’s experiment is performed with light of wavelength 500 nm. The slits are
1.2 mm apart and viewing screen is 5.4 m from the slit. How far apart are the bright fringes
near the centre of the interference pattern? [Ans : 2.25x10-3 m] [TU 2074]
7) Newton’s rings arrangement is used with a source emitting two wavelength 1 and λ 2. It is
λ
found that the nth dark ring due to λ 1 coincides with (n+1)th dark ring due to λ 2. Find the
-5 -5
diameter of nth dark ring. ( λ 1 = 6 x 10 cm , λ2 = 5.9 x 10 cm and radius of curvature of
the lens, R = 90 cm) [Ans : D 59 = 0.1 12 cm] [TU 2073]
8) Newton’s ring formed by sodium light viewed normally. What is the order of dark ring which
will have double the diameter of 50th ring? [Ans : 200] [TU 2073]
th
9) In a Newton’s ring experiment the diameter of 10 dark ring changes from 1.4 cm to 1.27 cm
when a liquid is introduced between the lens and the plate. Calculate the refractive index of
the liquid.[Ans : 1.215] [TU 2072]
Solution : For air film, d n = √ 4 nλR so that 1.4 = √ 4 (10)λR (1)

(2)
For liquid film having refractive index( μ ) , d n =
√ 4 nλR so that
μ √
1.27 =
4 (10) λR
μ

1.4 √ 4 (10) λR
= =√ μ

√
On dividing equation (2) by (1), we have 1.27 4 (10) λR
μ

( )
2
1.4
i.e. μ = =1.215
1.27
10) A 600-nm-thick soap film (μ=1.40) in air is illuminated with white light in a direction
perpendicular to the film. For how many different wavelengths in the 300 to 700 nm range is
there (a) fully constructive interference and (b) fully destructive interference in the reflected
light? [Ans : constructive- 6.72 x 10-7 m; 4.8x 10-7 m; 3.73 x 10-7 m; 3.05 x 10-7 m and for
destructive – 5.6 x 10-7 m; 4.2x 10-7 m; 3.36 x 10-7 m]
Solution:
-9 -9
Given, μs = 1.40, λ min =300 x 10 m, λ max =700 x 10 m , t = 600 nm
For thin soap film of refractive index, μs and thickness, t, the path difference between two
reflected rays is given by x n = 2 μs t , since angle of refraction (r) is very small. Thus, for
destructive interference of nth order, we have 2 μs t = x n = n λ n
2 μ s t 2 x 1.40 x 600 x 10- 9 1680 x 10- 9
i.e. λ n = = =
n n n
Thus, the wavelength of destructive interference corresponding to
-9
1680 x 10 -9
n = 1 is λ 1 = = 1680 x 10 m,
1
-9
1680 x 10 -9
n = 2 is λ 2 = = 840 x 10 m, which is more than λ max
2
-9
1680 x 10 -9
n = 3 is λ 3 = = 560 x 10 m,
3
-9
1680 x 10 -9
n = 4 is λ 4 = = 420 x 10 m,
4
-9
1680 x 10 -9
n = 5 is λ 5 = = 336 x 10 m,
5
 -9
1680 x 10 -9
n = 6 is λ 6 = = 280 x 10 m, which is less than λ min
6
Hence, we can observe fully destructive interference in the given range for three different
wavelengths λ 3 , λ4 ∧ λ5 .
λn
Again, for constructive interference of nth order, we have 2 μs t = x n =(2 n + 1)
2
4 μs t 4 x 1.40 x 600 x 10- 9 3360 x 10 -9
i.e. λ n = = =
(2 n +1) (2 n +1) (2 n + 1)
Thus, the wavelength of constructive interference corresponding to
-9
3360 x 10 -9
n = 1 is λ 1 = = 1120 x 10 m, which is more than λ max
3
-9
3360 x 10 -9
n = 2 is λ 2 = = 672 x 10 m ,
5
-9
3360 x 10 -9
n = 3 is λ 3 = = 480 x 10 m,
7
-9
3360 x 10 -9
n = 4 is λ 4 = =373.33 x 10 m,
9
-9
3360 x 10 -9
n = 5 is λ 5 = = 305.45 x 10 m,
11
-9
3360 x 10 -9
n = 6 is λ 6 = = 258.46 x 10 m, which is less than λ min
13
Hence, we can observe fully constructive interference in the given range for four different
wavelengths λ 2 , λ 3 , λ4 ∧ λ5 .
11) A thin film of acetone (μ=1.25) coats a thick glass plate (μ=1.50).White light is incident
normally to the film. In the reflections, fully destructive interference occurs at 600 nm and
fully constructive interference at 700 nm. Calculate the thickness of the acetone film.
Solution:
Given, μa =1.25 , μ g = 1.50, λ = 700 x 10- 9 m (for constructive interference)
And λ = 600 x 10- 9 m (for destructive interference), t = ?
For thin film of acetone of refractive index, μa and thickness, t, the path difference between
two reflected rays is given by x n = 2 μa t , since angle of refraction (r) is very small. Thus, for
constructive interference of nth order, we have 2 μa t = x n = n λ
i.e. 2 x 1.25 x t = n (700 x 10 -9) ----- (1)
Again, for destructive interference of nth order, we have 2 μa t = x n = ( 2n + 1 ) λ / 2
-9
600 x 10
i.e. 2 x 1.25 x t = (2n+1) ( ¿= (2n+1) (300 x 10 -9) ----- (2)
2
By using equation (1) and (2), we get that
n (700 x 10 -9) = (2n+1) (300 x 10 -9)
i.e. n = 3
Thus, by using equation (1), we have, 2 x 1.25 x t = 3 x (700 x 10 -9)
i.e. t = 8.4 x 10-7 m
12) Interference fringes were produced by Young's double slits method, the wavelength of light
being 6x10-7m. When a film of material 3.6x10-3 cm thick was placed over one of the slits, the
fringes pattern was displaced by a distance equal to 30 times that between two adjacent
fringes. Calculate the refractive index of the material. [Ans : 1.5]
13) In a double-slit arrangement the slits are separated by a distance equal to 100 times the
wavelength of the light passing through the slits. (a) What is the angular separation in radians
between the central maximum and an adjacent maximum? (b) What is the distance between
these maxima on a screen 50.0 cm from the slits? [Ans : 0.01 rad, 0.5 cm]
 14) In a double-slit experiment, the distance between slits is 5.0mm and the slits are 1.0 m from
the screen. Two interference patterns can be seen on the screen: one due to light of
wavelength 480nm, and the other due to light of wavelength 600 nm. What is the separation
on the screen between the third-order (n=3) bright fringes of the two interference patterns?
[Ans : 7.2 x 10 -5 m]
15) A thin equi-convex lens of focal length 100 cm and refractive index 1.5 rests on an optically
flat glass plate. Newton’s rings are viewed normally by reflection using light of wavelength
5890x10-10 m. What is the diameter of fifth bright ring? [Ans: 3.25 mm]
Solution : For bright Newton’s ring of nth order due to reflected light, the diameter is given
by,
d n = √ 2(2 n - 1) λR = √ 18 x 5890 x 10-10 R
But, by lens maker’s formula,
1
f [ 1 1
= ( μ - 1) +
R R ] , i . e . , R = ( 1.5 - 1 ) x 2 x 100 x 10- 2 = 1 m
Thus, d n =3.25 mm
16) Newton’s rings are observed in reflected light of wavelength 5.9 x 10- 5cm. The
diameter of tenth dark ring is 0.50 cm. Find the radius of curvature of the lens used
and thickness of the air film. [Ans: 105.9 cm, 2.95 x 10 -4 cm ]